Welcome to Heavy Blog is Heavy’s feature, “The Anatomy Of.” Taken from the Between The Buried And Me album of the same name, in which the band pays tribute

6 years ago

Welcome to Heavy Blog is Heavy’s feature, “The Anatomy Of.” Taken from the Between The Buried And Me album of the same name, in which the band pays tribute to artists/bands that they feel have most inspired their songwriting, “The Anatomy Of” allows us to hand off the metaphorical microphone to bands so they can talk about their influences. Read more entries from this series here.

Yesterday, I reviewed NullingrootsInto the Grey, a review in which I lamented getting the word about this band out there so late in the year. Their blend of progressive and post black metal is really something to be in awe of, resulting in an exceptional album. Clearly, there’s a lot going on in the background of such a band and getting a look at their influences would probably be a varied and fascinating affair. Thus, when the opportunity to do just that presented itself, we jumped on it and here we are, posting their Anatomy Of post! The below list, compiled by vocalist/guitarist Cameron Boesch, contains some expected picks (like post black metal geniuses, Lantlos) and some which make sense only in retrospect (like the present of a thrashy riff or two on the album fitting in with the Metallica influence).

At the end of the day, the exercise behind the “Anatomy Of” series will always be one which allows both the artist and the reader plenty of space for interpretation. And that’s, of course, a really good thing; music is an ongoing conversation and thus, getting a peek behind the scenes should never be an open and shut case. Therefore, please read on and think on the many complex and subtle ways in which musicians influence each other, a relationship that’s never as straightforward as it might seems. It’s more akin to what terroir lends wine, a shifting and subjective series of potentialities rather than clear directives or directions.

Artificial BrainInfrared Horizon

At the moment, Artificial Brain’s Infrared Horizon is my favorite album. This album came out in 2017, so it is of course a fairly new album to me, but I already revere it as one of my favorite albums of all time. The complexity of the riffs is what really inspires me. I’m not talking about how difficult sounding it is to play, but rather the structuring of the riffs. They are really thought out and clever, in my opinion. I also love the atmosphere of this album, it is a very specific sound that works perfectly with their themes. I love the chords they use, too.

SuffocationDespise the Sun

Suffocation’s Despise the Sun was a huge influence on me growing up. This is not so much an influence for Nullingroots as much as it is for just me personally. I have primarily been a death metal guitarist my whole life, and this album (technically EP) was always a big influence.

Woods of DesolationAs the Stars

Woods of Desolation is an inspiration that might be more obvious to our sound. It’s difficult to pick between Torn Beyond Reason and As the Stars, but since I have to pick, I’ll go with As the Stars. This album does not inspire me in any unique way like the other albums, but it is a really good atmospheric black metal album that I regularly listen to.

Pig DestroyerProwler in the Yard

Pig Destroyer’s Prowler in the Yard, vocally speaking, has always been a big influence. I simply just love their lyrics (and how their screamer sounds.) They are eerie. I’ve always wanted to incorporate that aspect into my music. I love their music too, but instrumentally they are not an influence.

Lantlos.neon

Lantlos.neon is probably my most predictable influence. I heard it when it was first released in 2010, and I immediately loved it. It was the first blackgaze album I’ve ever heard. I listened to it so much 7 years ago, that I can only listen to it occasionally now, or else it’ll just be played out to me.

MetallicaKill ‘Em all

Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All. I was sort of debating on adding this one, but had I never gotten this album when I was 12, I would have probably never even played guitar. I was a stereotypical teenage Metallica fan who tried learning all their songs.

Eden Kupermintz

Published 6 years ago